Boots & Sabers

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0740, 20 Apr 18

No Blue Wave?

Washington County Republican Party Chairman Jim Geldreich makes a compelling case in the Washington County Daily News for why the Blue Wave might break on Wisconsin.

To a certain extent, it is customary for the minority party to gain seats during off-year elections. The media in its frenzy to mock and ridicule the Republican Party has created the catch phrase, “Blue Wave,” which theoretically means they’re hoping Republicans are swept out of office in 2018.

Before everyone blindly starts jumping on this “Blue Wave” bandwagon, let’s all pause, take a deep breath and give this some careful thought. In Wisconsin, just exactly what would be the upside to removing Republicans and replacing them with Democrats? Only those with short memories have forgotten what it was like before 2010 under former Democrat Gov. Jim Doyle.

Here’s a brief refresher: Wisconsin had a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, a 9.3 percent unemployment rate, a hostile business environment, higher property taxes and double-digit tuition increases. Remember that? There’s no conceivable reason to revert back to these days by pushing a blue wave upon the state.

Since Gov. Scott Walker was sworn in back in 2011, and with the support of the Republican Legislature, the state of Wisconsin has been positively moving forward. Because there have been so many positive changes in Wisconsin, it may be very easy to become apathetic. Walker and the Republicans have systematically put Wisconsin back on the correct path with the conservative reforms that generated the strong state economy we now enjoy.

Wisconsin has a much more friendly business climate under Republican leadership. We have climbed from the bottom 10 for business to the top 10. Simultaneously, the unemployment rate has fallen from 9.3 percent to the current alltime low of 2.9 percent. Wage growth in Wisconsin is now ninth best in the country. Walker and the Republicans, along with President Donald Trump, brokered the landmark Foxconn Technology Group deal, surpassing 10 competing states.

Judging by the appalling lack of support for Foxconnfrom the Democrats, I can confidently say a

“Blue Wave” would result in the stagnation of this epic project. If you keep your old property tax bills, I would suggest comparing your 2010 property tax bill with your 2017 property tax bill. It is likely 15-20 percent lower now. That translates to more money in the hands of the people who earn it, year after year after year. In fact, the overall tax burden in Wisconsin will have been lowered by $8 billion by the end of 2018 thanks to Walker’s conservative reforms.

A blue wave is almost certain to increase fees and income taxes, and likely bump your property tax bill back up to those prior levels or higher. Tuition at UW schools has been frozen for six straight years now, making higher education more affordable for Wisconsin families. A “Blue Wave” will assuredly bring back the Doyle-era tuition increases.

As a veteran, I’ve seen Walker restore the GI Bill, expand employment opportunities for veterans and open a new veteran’s home in northwest Wisconsin. A “Blue Wave” will bring further disregard for military veterans from the likes of Tammy Baldwin and Madison-area leftists.

In summary, Walker and the Republican Legislature have put forth a solid record of positive accomplishments for Wisconsin. This record is the envy of other states who are currently buried in debt and suffering economic malaise. If anyone is interested in a preview of what a blue wave will bring to Wisconsin, we need look no further than across the border in Illinois. The difference is clear. Wisconsin became a red state in the past decade because residents were fatigued with leftist policies.

A “Blue Wave”? Not so fast.

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0740, 20 April 2018

6 Comments

  1. Pat

    I’m not sure if there will be a congressional “blue wave” as the amount of gerrymandering that has occurred should make it difficult for Democrats to make a strong push. It sucks that we allow politicians to pick who gets to vote for for them versus letting the voters pick the politicians.

  2. MHMaley

    Whenever Walker touts his achievements I look not to Illinois but the pure Blus state of Minnesota for comparison . It’s a high tax state that has kept its Fortune 500 companies and is growing at a rate far greater than Wisconsin .

  3. Kevin Scheunemann

    Mark,

    I laugh when you celebrate overtly high taxes.

    Since you enjoy sending money into the government, how much extra did you send into IRS and WI DOR over and above what was due for 2017?

    You should lead by voluntary example.

  4. billphoto

    The real problem here is what is not being said.  Washington County’s RNC (and the party in general) has a history of party line political decisions.  Take for example, the nomination of Thompson to run against Baldwin when other candidates like Hovde were available.  If “the party” truly wants to stop the blue wave, they need to replace their management from not just the local level but from the top down with people that do not march in lock step with “the party.”

    A cursory examination of what happened when the RINOs on the County Board learned that boundaries drawn on logical lines would eliminate 3 of their indispensable members is as great example of gerrymandering but ask Don Pridemore about the benefits of “the party” defining voting districts.

    Add to that the utter failure of “the party” to effectively expose the dishonesty of opposition candidates and I fear a near perfect storm is coming.

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